The long journey starts in Sinalunga, strategic centre of the Sienese Valdichiana, and takes us to Trequanda and its olive groves.
From Valdichiana the route then heads south, up to the borders of Tuscany. Some sections of dirt road make the route particularly challenging and technical. Castelmuzio, Monticchiello and Celle sul Rigo are small pearls before arriving in San Casciano Bagni, a famous and charming spa town at 570 metres above sea level.
There are just 14 km between San Casciano and Cetona but going over the pass of Monte Cetona, at 794 metres asl, is quite challenging. A stop at the Archeodromo Belvedere with 23 caves once home to bears and later sites of prehistoric cults, is highly recommended.
From Cetona one then reaches Chiusi, skirting the lake of the same name and that of Montepulciano, cycling along the Reclamation Trail (“Sentiero della Bonifica”) (Eurovelo 7), to then continue on back roads to Cortona, the main cultural and tourist centre of the Arezzo part of Valdichiana.
At this point we are in the heart of the Chianina breeding farms and the city of Arezzo, easily reached by continuing along the Reclamation Trail, appears all dressed up to be explored with its important medieval monuments and churches.
From Arezzo one climbs to 519 metres asl to Civitella Val di Chiana, a village full of ancient Lombard forts, and then on to the Renaissance town of Monte San Savino, the home of porchetta.
From Monte San Savino, having passed Gargonza and the Monte Capanne pass, one descends to lake Calcione and, having reached Rigomagno, it is again possible to breathe pure Chianina air and encounter the White Giant.